Ask Cassie - Blow Dry or Air Dry?

Jacalyn Luth was the visionary that brought Maximum FX to fruition by opening its doors in the summer of 1991. The salon is currently located on South Congress, across from the Texas School for the Deaf. In the Fall of 2006, Maximum FX expanded and opened its second location in southwest Austin in the Escarpment Village Shopping

Ask Cassie - Blow Dry or Air Dry?

Should the hair be blow dried or air dried?

It is a matter of preference, actually. Some people will devote time to styling their hair, or want to achieve the maximum styling they can get for their hair, so they opt for blow-drying it. On the other hand, there are some people who think that blow-drying is a waste of electricity and is the quickest way of damaging the hair, so they opt to have it air dried.

Which is better, you may ask?

Both ways of drying the hair have their advantages and disadvantages, and there are proper and improper ways of doing both. Read on and find out what these are.

Air drying.

Air drying is usually done by people who have short and low-maintenance hairstyles, or by people with curly hair. There are also people who have long hair yet have their hair air dry, as air drying does not subject the hair to excessive heat. Therefore, the hair is not as susceptible to damage as hair that is blow dried. If you are going to have your hair air dried, it is very important to remember that the hair is at its weakest when it is wet. So, take care not to rub your hair dry with the use of a towel. The friction caused by rubbing the hair with a towel will make the hair brittle and eventually break. Rather than rubbing it, you should instead blot the moisture out of your hair with the towel. Also, be careful not to tug or pull at your hair that much when it is still wet. Once the water is blotted out of the hair, fluff it out with your fingers.

Blow Drying.

Blow drying the hair is the most convenient way of doing it, and because most people live fast-paced lives, blow drying the hair is the way most people want to do it. Moreover, drying the hair using a blower adds volume to the hair. But in as much that blow drying is very convenient, it is also dangerous to the hair, especially if overdone. It can make the hair very brittle. If you blow dry your hair, make sure that it is not soaking wet. Blot the water out with a towel first. Always use a heat protectant in the hair such as the Aveda Damage Control spray. It helps protect against thermal damage, reduces breakage from combing, and helps protect against UV damage. Do not hold the dryer too close to your head; keep it at least six inches away from your hair and move the dryer constantly around your head. Protect the outer strands of your hair from being over-dried by bending over and blow drying your hair with your hair hanging upside down.

Whether you air dry your hair or you blow dry it is completely your own choice based on your own lifestyle and preferences. But whatever you do, always remember that the hair is fragile. Be careful while handling it.